Crucial Public Meeting coming with new Dellis Cay Owners; construction set for early 2023

By Deandrea Hamilton & Dana Malcolm

Editorial Staff

#TurksandCaicos, December 9, 2022 – It will no longer be the tiny island with decaying homes, languishing amidst a scandalous transaction when construction resumes on the infamous Dellis Cay Project as early as the first quarter of 2023.

Arlington Musgrove, Minister of Immigration and Border Services made the announcement at a town hall meeting in North Caicos on November 29th in response to a resident’s query about the development.

With the help of a stated injection of $200 million, the picturesque property is expected to transition to one of international glamour and prestige.  But first, it will be a great opportunity for those in the construction industry with some 300 jobs expected to be generated during the building phase.

“The owner for Dellis Cay wanted a meeting this week but it was conflicting with our town halls so they’ve scheduled a meeting for the first week of January,” Musgrove explained “He wants to come here and his main focus is housing so it’s a great opportunity for the people of the twin islands.”

Musgrove said the owner wanted to discuss housing, boating, opportunities for construction workers and more, including tourism-based businesses.

“They want to start in the first quarter of next year…” he said.

Dellis Cay which is just off the coast of North Caicos was sold off under the Michael Misick administration. A huge luxury project was started on the private cay by Dr. Cem Kinay, a Turkish hotelier before everything came to a grinding halt in 2009.  Allegations of corruption linked to a reported $ 500,000 donation to Misick marred the deal, sent the property into receivership and back onto the market.

This past July, Dellis Cay was purchased by the Desarollos Hotelco, owners of the Ritz Carlton on Grace Bay. At the time news broke of the sale, construction was slated to get started within 12 months.

No sale price was made public for the the 560-acre private island, which Desarollos Hotelco brokered through Engel and Völkers Turks and Caicos from Trinidad and Tobago Unit Trust Corporation (TTUTC); TTUTC held the property in receivership.

Hope is now reignited as Dellis Cay is poised to be yet another luxury development strongly linked to and dependent upon North Caicos islanders.

Minister Musgrove, as the Member of Parliament for the twin islands of North and Middle Caicos encouraged residents to attend the January 2023 meeting with the new owners.

“Please I want everyone to be there so we can listen and say what we want; and whoever has housing and whoever has cars boats that we can help organize that.”

A hotel is also planned for the Cay in the near future.